In 1820, the Crown bought the area surrounding the waterways. The area around the creeks, 960 acres (3.9 km2), ceded to the Crown by the Mississaugas,[3] was auctioned off to William Chisholm in 1827. He left the development of the area to his son, Robert Kerr Chisholm and his brother-in-law, Thomas Merrick.

Oakville’s first industries included shipbuilding, timber shipment, and wheat farming. In the 1850s, there was an economic recession and the foundry, the most important industry in town, was closed. Basket-making became a major industry in the town, and the Grand Trunk Railway was built through it.

In 1962 the town of Oakville merged with its neighbouring villages (Bronte, Palermo, Sheridan, and the remainder of Trafalgar Township) to become the new Town of Oakville, reaching northwards to Steeles Avenue in Milton. In 1973, the restructuring of Halton County into Halton Region brought the northern border southwards to just north of the future Highway 407.

Neighbourhoods

Oakville’s Planning Department divides the town into communities. These divisions have little to do with politics and are based on traditional neighbourhoods.[4]

Oakville Harbour

Neighbourhood

Description

Old Oakville

Old Oakville is located in South-Central Oakville along the shore of Lake Ontario. It is the original Oakville Settlement and is centred on Oakville Harbour.[5]

Kerr Village

Kerr Village is located just West of Old Village around Kerr Street between Speers Rd and Lakeshore Rd. The city has developed a plan for the neighborhood.[6]

Bronte

Bronte is located in Southwest Oakville along the shore of Lake Ontario. It is a community centred on Bronte Harbour and includes the Coronation Park district to its east.[7]

Eastlake

Eastlake is located in Southeast Oakville along the shore of Lake Ontario, also referred to as Joshua Creek. It is bordered on the west by Morrison Creek, to the north by Cornwall Road, and to the east by the Mississauga border.[8]